The Secret Code of Monsters.

Chapter 1086 (Ch.1085) Faith and Barrier

"So, Mr. Marcus Barton... no, I mean, the Barton family has been parasitized by worms?"

“Only Marcus Barton,” Kishhai said dismissively, “the rest are just damned.”

At the beginning.

The goal of "Holy Flame" is simply to fulfill the oath and responsibility of the "sword".

At the beginning.

Until they discovered the existence of the 'worms' and devoted themselves to finding traces of these terrifying creatures—they learned more and more about the worms and gradually glimpsed many hidden truths about this world…

for example.

A large part of history has disappeared.

"A lost history? You mean, a part of history disappeared over the past few centuries? Because of the worms?" Roland asked, puzzled.

“A few hundred years? Child, do you really think that the history of the world is only a few hundred years?” Keshihai’s playful tone carried a hint of bitterness that was hard to detect: “...We were abandoned.”

give up?

By whom?

Kishhai did not answer Roland's question, but turned and went to a white tree not far away, and invited Roland to join him.

He pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his inner pocket, took one out, and handed it to Roland.

"Thank you, sir. I have it with me."

“I never smoke rich people’s stuff,” Kashhai said, disliking cigars. Seeing Roland’s refusal, he lit one himself, a small flame flickering between his fingers: “It doesn’t really go into your lungs; this stuff is just like how a rich man behaves normally…”

"A mere showpiece."

He wouldn't discuss the flavors of cigars or pipe grass with Roland like Randolph would—he smoked the worst and strongest, making Roland cough.

The two men sat leaning against a tree, smoking and for a few minutes, neither of them spoke.

Like two workers who have just finished their work, they are friends who don't need to talk and don't feel awkward.

"What do you think of the worm?" Keshhai asked Roland abruptly, extinguishing the third cigarette and lighting the fourth.

This method of drawing reminded Roland of the Lady of the Blades.

"Worms? Humanity's...enemy?"

"A common, but meaningless statement."

Keshhai, resting his head on the tree trunk, thought Roland's words were too cunning.

"I think you should have a way, and the same goes for 'Holy Flames'."

Keshhai turned his head and looked him up and down: "You? Little Enid has found a businessman husband."

“There’s no need to use heroic criteria when choosing a lover; that’s too demanding.” Roland heard the sarcasm in his words.

“Quite the opposite, Mr. Collins.” Kishhai dropped the ‘child’ and addressed Roland by his real surname: “On the contrary, we are helpless—although dragon scum can detect their presence, and the power of extreme yang can dissolve their bodies…”

"As an executive, a ritualist, you should know how difficult this method is."

Dragon slag is a consumable item.

And there is no trace of the 'dragon' at present.

As for the power of extreme Yang…

Holy water is finite—how many people can each serving serve? How many people are there in London? In the entire empire? How often do they conduct inspections…?

A month?

Or, a week?
Or two days?
"This shouldn't be the responsibility of the 'Holy Flame,' Mr. Kishhai. I think that both mortals and ritual practitioners should have the same right—if, as you say, they are enemies of humanity… I think every human being has the right to know the identity of their enemy, right?"

Kshihai remained silent.

His pessimism stemmed not from the worms themselves, but from how humans treat them.

“Excellent, Mr. Collins. Tell me, what will the cult and the government do when we inform them of the worm’s existence?”

Roland tilted his head and thought for a moment. Then, he sighed softly.

"It seems we can't."

This time, Keshhai was satisfied with Roland's answer: "It seems you have not failed your birth."

It can be said like this.

Since becoming a ritualist and executor, Roland has seen no more demons in people's hearts than the filth he witnessed in his childhood—a vast range, yet few things have surprised him.

He pondered Keshhai's words and was well aware of what would happen if a worm existed above humanity.

If I had 100% of my energy, I'd probably spend 80% on other things...

Those who perform the rituals are even more so.

Because they possess far more destructive power, flames and holy water lose their effectiveness under their resilient skin, so they must resort to even crueler methods—only death can prove a person's 'purity,' can't it?
Maybe...

There are ways to bring people down to earth without them dying.

Kerschhai's conversation was very disjointed. He first talked about worms, and then suddenly began to discuss with Roland the 'natural disaster' happening in London—what was the rats' purpose?
"If this is a test, I'm afraid I would definitely fail."

“The executive has never been sensitive to these things, Mr. Collins. Smart people are not suited to be soldiers.”

Keshhai casually commented, and continued to wait for Roland's answer.

"...According to my friend's speculation, the rat plague may very well represent a conspiracy within the 'Cradle of Flesh and Blood.'"

"What conspiracy?" Keshhai pulled out a flat wine flask from the inside, unscrewed it, and took a sip.

"To make the citizens aware of the 'mysterious' conspiracy."

“Oh, perhaps. What good would that do them?” Keshhai pressed.

Roland thought for a moment: "The answer lies with that child we met earlier who could control the rat swarm...?"

"Not too stupid, Collins."

Keshihai smacked his lips.

"It wasn't just the poor who remained lucid, Collins. The poor, merchants, even nobles. Too many became 'apprentices' during the plague—what do you think the Church should do to be right?"

According to Roland's view of the Holy Cross.

They wouldn't admit that these "apprentices" were created from the "Cradle of Flesh and Blood"—of course, this extraordinary power involves too many people to be kept secret from the "mysterious" existence for now…

I am afraid.

The Holy Cross fabricated a "sect" or even a deity to "adopt" these apprentices, who may or may not be considered lucky.

As Roland continued, he added, "I don't think the Cradle of Flesh and Blood will just stand by and watch."

His answer barely satisfied Keshihai.

Roland had lost too much information, and Kishich did not consider him to be the kind of person who was so intelligent as to be frightening.

“Actually, besides taking the stage, this disaster was also caused by ‘faith’—” Keshhai lit another cigarette and pointed towards the treetops above: “Do you know what’s above us?”

"...Noble character?"

Kerschhai glanced at Roland, clearly not a man with much of a sense of humor either: “A barrier, Mr. Collins. A ‘barrier’ created by the gods—a barrier to keep out the worms…”

Roland stroked the word 'barrier' and understood what the answer mentioned in the previous sentence about Keshihai meant.

But this answer doesn't sound quite right.

"A...new faith?"

Roland found it hard to accept.

Since becoming an executive officer, the cult members he has dealt with have mostly come from the cradle of flesh and blood.

He found it hard to believe that the leader of this organization was...

It is a…

A compassionate and empathetic character?
(End of this chapter)